Childhood,socially constructed

Examine the arguments and evidence in favour of the view that childhood is sociallyconstructed (24 marks)Childhood varies between times, places and groups. The idea of childhood is a result ofindustrialisation and social policies. Socially constructed refers to the idea that society has createdchildhood and it is not natural. Evidence supporting the idea that childhood is socially constructed isdifferent statuses and responsibilities in different cultures and within the same society and the viewthat childhood changing through history.Historians argue that childhood is a recent invention. Aries supports this view by showing that onlyafter industrialisation did childhood begin to exist. Due to restrictions on child labour children wereseen as innocent and in the need of protection. This shows that childhood is socially constructedbecause only after industrialisation did childhood came about, showing that it isn't natural.Evidence that childhood is socially constructed can be seen through the differing responsibilities ofchildren in different cultures. In western societies childhood is seen as a period on time wherechildren are free from adult responsibilities. Jane Pilcher reinforces this concept as he states the mostimportant feature of modern childhood is separateness, where childhood is a clear and distinct lifestage, occupying different status', which is empathized in several ways. For example, laws thatregulate what children are and aren't allowed to do e.g. banning children from smoking. This showsthat childhood is socially constructed as the government is shaping what childhood should be,showing that it is not natural.Furthermore, cross-cultural differences in childhood also show how childhood is socially constructedas in 27 countries around the world children being involved in conflict whereas in western societiesthere are laws' protecting the innocence of children during childhood, as it is seen as a vulnerablestage, thus showing that what childhood means varies from one society to the next.Further evidence for childhood being socially constructed is the difference between children in thesame society. Inequalities based on social class ethnicity and gender can result in children not allhaving the same experience of childhood. An example is Asian girl who have a more restrictedchildhood showing that it is socially constructed because they are controlled to preserve izzat.Today's society is also much more child centred where everything revolves around children due tosmaller family size, laws and products aimed to serve children. This shows that childhood is sociallyconstructed as in the past childhood was not valued as much. This is reinforced by the march ofprogress view where Aries and Shorter claim children today are much more valued and cared for.However some may argue that childhood is not socially constructed but rather is disappearing. This isreinforced by Postman who points to the trends towards children being given the same rights asadults e.g. the growing likeliness of dress wear. This is because of internet and media influences thatexpose children to adult worldMany views suggest that childhood is socially constructed due to the differences in the view ofchildhood between time, cultures and societies. However some may argue that childhood isdisappearing but once existing, reinforcing the debate that it is socially constructed.